Essays
The Journal of Law and Mobility publishes short, persuasive essays by industry leaders, academics, professionals, and the Journal editors and staff. Essays respond to current events, as well as legal and policy debates. Submissions of essays between 800 and 2,000 words are always welcome.
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What Will Biden’s Transportation Priorities Be? A Preliminary Analysis
The first week and a half of the Biden administration has seen a flurry of activity: thirty executive orders and actions were taken in the first three days alone, with new announcements every day this week as well. Three of the earliest orders touched transportation and energy issues:…The Last Mile of Public Space
By Vanessa Casado Pérez* When we think of transportation, we hardly ever think of sidewalks, albeit they are transportation corridors as much as roads or highways. Managing sidewalk space is not easy. There are multiple uses competing for this public space, as it is even called “our last commons.”…Mass Transit Continues to Struggle as the COVID Crisis Drags On
In a New York Times article published this past Sunday, Ben Fried, a spokesman for TransitCenter, a transportation advocacy group, described mass transit systems across the country as being in “existential peril” due to continued financial issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the pandemic exploded into American cities…California Passed Prop 22. What Does This Mean for Emerging Transportation?
In the midst of a tumultuous election week, app-based driving platforms Lyft and Uber are celebrating a victory in California. Voters there passed Prop 22, which classifies app-based drivers as independent contractors for employment and tax purposes. The initiative carves out an exception to Assembly Bill 5 (AB5),…Back to the Future: Challenges to the Usage of Transportation Technology by Foster Youth
By Emily Kortright & Lucy Johnston-Walsh* Children and young adults who are involved with the foster care system face multiple barriers to transportation, particularly in remote areas of the country with limited public transport options. Recent changes in federal and state laws now allow children to remain in foster…COVID’s Continuing Challenge to Our Streets
This year we have tried our best to keep up with all of the ways that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge our transportation system – though with so much news on so many fronts that is often a losing battle. This past summer I moved from Ann Arbor to…Equity in Micromobility
Micromobility usage was at an all-time high before March 2020. The culmination of decades of growth and industry involvement in the United States resulted in nearly 350 million rides taken on shared bikes and scooters since 2010. The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) reported this astounding statistic…The COVID Crisis and Micromobility
This blog post kicks off a month of coverage focused on micromobility – check back tomorrow for a new journal article on micromobility laws nationwide! A few weeks ago I wrote about how COVID-19 has disrupted the ridesharing industry, with Lyft and Uber struggling to find their place in…New Projects in Michigan and Elsewhere Show AV Testing and Development’s Bounce Back from COVID Lockdowns
Like many industries, the automated vehicle industry faced setbacks due to this year’s many COVID-19 related local and regional lockdowns. In the spring, as the first wave of the virus spread, many companies had to stop testing to protect the human safety drivers and, in the case of Bay…Uber and Lyft to Remain Online in California, While Two Other Recent Cases Highlight Other Legal Issues for Uber
Last week I discussed the California Superior Court decision that ruled that under California law Uber and Lyft must classify their ridesharing drivers as employees, rather than independent contractors. In response to that ruling, both companies had threatened to shut down service across the state. Yesterday, an appeals court…